The women’s ski jumping event in Zaō in Japan has been cancelled, while the COVID-19 crisis has forced the snowboard competition in Lake Bannoye in Russia to be postponed.

The news comes a few weeks after the Ski Cross World Cup in Innichen/San Candido in Italy fell victim to the pandemic.  

Last season saw the FIS hit by a number of cancellations across several disciplines as the global health crisis worsened.

Zaō had been scheduled to stage the women's Ski Jumping World Cup meeting on January 15 and 17.

According to Japanese news agency Kyodo News, organisers said it would be difficult to solve problems such as travel and accommodation support for athletes and officials from overseas as well as infection control.

The first stage of the parallel discipline in the Snowboard World Cup was expected to take place at Lake Bannoye from December 5 to 6.

But the Russian Snowboard Federation (FSR) has confirmed it would be held from February 6 to 7, Russia's official state news agency TASS reported.

The postponed event is now set to be followed by the Snowboard World Cup competition in Moscow on January 30.

"The International Ski Federation recommended to postpone the World Cup stage in order to preserve the block of competitions on the territory of Russia," said Svetlana Safina, co-ordinator of international competitions for RSF.

"Conducting two consecutive stages in our country will minimise the risks for athletes associated with the epidemiological situation, avoid additional flights and tests."